Electric boat maker shutters plant in WV

Status
Not open for further replies.

nola mike

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
5,366
While all very true, it is not politically correct at this time ! Politics do not allow for common sense.
Once again, nothing to do with politics. Infrastructure would need to be built from the ground up, and hydrogen is difficult to produce and transport. Really, the only benefits of hydrogen vs EV are quicker filling and maybe weight. You'll never be able to fuel an H2 vehicle from your house.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,739
There are many electric boats working the canals of NW Europe.
Mostly slow moving work boats that are plugged in at the end of the work day.

And then there are recreational EB's for rent.

My nephew spent 6 years in Amsterdam, just returned last fall.
He said they are just starting to catch on. Quick charge stations every 5 to 8 miles for boats only.
Yes they go slow, and most have a putt putt use time of only 4 to 7 hours.
He said some even come equip with a bicycle rack for your shore excursions.
I can't imagine the cost.
.

 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
37,848
Any one young or older can fill a gas tank on their car !----No training required !---But for PROPANE you need training and a certificate.----Can't imagine the training / certificate / inspection requirements on hydrogen.----Remember the HINDENGURG blimp.
 

jlh3rd

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 10, 2017
Messages
560
There are many electric boats working the canals of NW Europe.
Mostly slow moving work boats that are plugged in at the end of the work day.

And then there are recreational EB's for rent.

My nephew spent 6 years in Amsterdam, just returned last fall.
He said they are just starting to catch on. Quick charge stations every 5 to 8 miles for boats only.
Yes they go slow, and most have a putt putt use time of only 4 to 7 hours.
He said some even come equip with a bicycle rack for your shore excursions.
I can't imagine the cost.
.

and who's paying for all of that ?
 

mr 88

Commander
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
2,180
There are many electric boats working the canals of NW Europe.
Mostly slow moving work boats that are plugged in at the end of the work day.
Seeing that they are never more than a few feet from land if they lose there charge ,no big deal . Put them in open waters , big seas , and see how that goes . Let private companies with NO subsidies from us ,the taxpayers, develop all the technology required for electric transportation and it's all good . That's how the internal fuel combustion engines were developed along with all the infrastructure required .
 

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,425
Any one young or older can fill a gas tank on their car !----No training required !---But for PROPANE you need training and a certificate.----Can't imagine the training / certificate / inspection requirements on hydrogen.----Remember the HINDENGURG blimp.
Although I am an old fart, I am way to young to "remember " the Hindenburg disaster. I only read about it. Static electricity is a known, but invisible risk. Even today it causes fires at gas stations when a static electricity spark ignites gasoline. There is at least one state in the USA where you have to have your car fueled up by an attendant because of this and with the warming climate it will only get worse.
Thanks for mentioning Amsterdam/Holland where the infrastructure for electric vessel recharging is well underway. I was in Amsterdam a few months ago and loved to see one of those slow moving work boats. You cannot hear them coming and the work crews are not agitated by all the noise that the old diesel rigs produced.
Infra structure, as you mentioned, will be a problem in every energy delivery system. that should not stop us from going forward. I am afraid that if we do not move away from our current energy supply system we will just slowly poison ourselves instead of moving into a more advanced and cleaner future. We should invest more in a brighter future for our children.
I am hoping that in my children's lifetime we will have tiny fusion reactors installed in our vehicles that we never have to refuel. Well ,we all have our dreams.
 

nola mike

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
5,366
Seeing that they are never more than a few feet from land if they lose there charge ,no big deal . Put them in open waters , big seas , and see how that goes . Let private companies with NO subsidies from us ,the taxpayers, develop all the technology required for electric transportation and it's all good . That's how the internal fuel combustion engines were developed along with all the infrastructure required .
No subsidies to the auto or petroleum industries? Riiighht...
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
49,588
Companies like Cummins have a fleet of hydrogen trucks, boats, and off-highway equipment including gensets that have been running around for almost a decade

Hyundai and Toyota have hydrogen vehicle offerings

I would rock a hydrogen fueled boat and not look back
 

nola mike

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
5,366
Companies like Cummins have a fleet of hydrogen trucks, boats, and off-highway equipment including gensets that have been running around for almost a decade
Anything outside of CA?

Hyundai and Toyota have hydrogen vehicle offerings
Kind of, AFAIK they are all still essentially hybrid vehicles though (last I looked they still had good sized lithium batteries as well). And again, leased in CA only.

I would rock a hydrogen fueled boat and not look back
Right now a better choice than electric, but still not the best long term solution imo. Everybody clutching their pearls about "you can't bring out a jerry can of electrons!" would have the same complaint about hydrogen. Really, you need a large margin of safety when you go out, regardless of what's propelling the boat. You shouldn't be cutting it close with your range.
Hadn't heard it talked about that one of the biggest gains you get from the hybrids/EVs comes from the regenerative braking, which obviously isn't a factor with a boat. Same thing with FI; a big advantage in cars is the better metering over all rpm ranges and part throttle conditions. Again, less of a factor with a boat.
At the end of the day, a pleasure boat is difficult to make truly fuel efficient. Unless, as some here like to say, it has oars or sails...
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
12,693
The most sensible but not cheapest “green” marine propulsion would be diesel electric which is well proven but too expensive for mass market pleasure boats
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
37,848
Why would diesel electric be good for a small pleasure boat ?-----Used in locomotives simply because there is no transmission / drive train needed
 

mr 88

Commander
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
2,180
No subsidies to the auto or petroleum industries? Riiighht...
Absolutely none when they were getting started ,like the first 60-70 years . Gas stations were built privately, gas tax was used for road construction . When you bought a car ,the government didn't step in and give you a 7-10k rebate like they do with electric cars ,who are basically using the roads for free . Right now.,solar and wind projects are all subsided, and have a short life span before they need replacing.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
12,693
Why would diesel electric be good for a small pleasure boat ?-----Used in locomotives simply because there is no transmission / drive train needed
Diesel wouldn't have to run continuously, think of how regular gas/electric hybrids work.
Diesel is more efficient in terms of fuel use than gas engines by a lot.
 

ScottinAZ

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
831
hydrogen power would be an option, as for availability, I can walk into nearly any welding supply shop in the country and get a bottle, or a bottle filled. Its not as convenient as a corner gas station, but its close. Propane is an option as well. At my old school district, we had propane fueled buses, and the drivers filled them up as with a gas or diesel bus. Screw on fitting, pull the handle, and 60 gallons goes into the tank in about 3-5 minutes..... As for a reserve, think like a scuba diver and have a pony sized bottle for "backup"... 2 minutes with a crescent wrench, and you are back running. Sure you should plan to be able to go out and back with a safe reserve, but the law of "schitt happens" exists for a reason. Fuel contamination could kill your main supply. Batteries lose capacity as they age. A viable backup plan is almost always in order.... Mine on my boat is a small trolling motor... if the main engine drops dead, I can at least get to shore (or a hell of a lot closer to help) with the little bugger.... at least until the batteries die, then I am on to "plan C" which is likely swimming.....
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
37,848
So you would put a heavy diesel in the boat ?----A heavy generator ?----A heavy battery ?----And a heavy electric motor ?
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
12,693
That’s a damn sight better than what the greens will let you have in a few years. Ever wonder why so many people put up with sterndrives in the Med Sea salt water? They are all diesels! Because their fuel is so highly taxed!
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
12,693
You stated----diesel electric----in post #30 ??
Yes
That’s in anticipation of ever more strict regs. Don’t think they aren’t coming
So in the EU for decades they have had diesel sterndrive both Merc & Volvo
Given current tech it makes sense if you want some kind of decent range…
Mid sized boats
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top